Project Description

Interview with

KERRIE GEIER

Finalist in the

“Music Photographer” Category

of the 

AUSTRALIAN WOMEN IN MUSIC AWARDS

Interviewer – Dave Bruce

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Kerrie Geier is one of the great live music photographers in this Country. Kerrie shoots for many publications and we here at Amnplify have been one of the lucky recipients of her skill and care. One scan through her photos will leave you with no question as to why she is one of three photographers running for this award. Do yourself a favour and check out the galleries linked to all the images below, all of which are examples of Kerrie’s great talent.

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Fozzy – gallery

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Orianthi – gallery

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Let’s start with a few discovery questions. Have you always wanted to be a photographer? When did you start taking photos?
I started taking photos when I was a kid. I was one of those people who would always take a point and shoot camera into gigs with me, then it progressed to an SLR. I got my bachelor degree in photography straight out of high school, so it was still very much film based photography back then. In about 2005 I bought a dSLR and in 2008 I started shooting gigs for online publications.

How would you describe your style? What makes it unique, and why do you think people (like me) resonate with your photos?
I actually think it’s easier for other people to identify my style than it is for me to see it. I just try to get the best shots that I can. I have had people say that my wide shots are a signature of mine. A few years ago I got a 16-35mm lens and I love it! I hope that people resonate with my photos because they can feel the emotion and energy of the performance in them.

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Electric Fields – gallery

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What live music events, or artists, or photographers for that matter, originally drove you to feel the calling to buy a camera and join the fun? 
Well, I remember taking my point and shoot along to see silverchair at Thebarton Theatre 1995 – but to be honest, I don’t remember a time where I didn’t want to take a camera to a show. My first Big Day Out was in 1997 and the BDO was always a good chance to practice shooting from the front row of the crowd. I’d watch the photographers and wish I could be on that side of the barrier! 

Now a couple of questions on the present. How often do you shoot, which shows do you prefer – small, intimate shows or do the bells and whistles of the big shows get the juices flowing?
Over the course of a year, it averages out to about one gig a week, but of course it never works out that way in reality. There will be weeks without any shows and then I’ll have three in a week! As for my favourite type of shows, big shows are always exciting if we can shoot from up close – they usually have great production values, good lighting and a large photo pit making it easy to move around – but there really is nothing like a smaller show. Most of the gigs I shoot are at The Gov here in Adelaide, which has a capacity of about 800.

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Dan Sultan – gallery

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Please describe the creative process you employ (don’t give away too many secrets), and the photography challenges you overcame to get to here?
There is a lot more to live music photography than most people think. The conditions we shoot in can’t really be replicated, they change from show to show, and minute to minute within each show. So initially I just started out shooting as much as I could. One thing that I learned over the years was the importance of editing and culling shots. I’ll come home from a show and go through all my photos, flagging the ones that I like. Then I will go back through those flagged shots and cull again, while editing the ones that I want to keep. I try and make my edits vibrant, relatively high contrast, and i’ll almost always add some clarity. I don’t use any lightroom presets, so each gig is edited as from scratch.

Now a few questions about the Awards you are nominated for. Obvious congratulations are in order, but I am interested to hear about your journey from “there” to “here”. What has it been like in reality?
Thank you! It has been long road – I’ve shot hundreds of gigs and more than a thousand different artists since I started. Live music photography is definitely something that you do for the love of it. The reality of it is a lot waiting around and some very late nights. I’ve fallen asleep at my computer while editing photos after a gig more than once. I have a full time job, so shooting and editing has to fit around that. For most of the time i’ve been shooting I never even knew if anyone was really seeing my work or not! I’ve seen quite a few photographers come and go, because if you don’t have a passion for it, it’s a lot of hard work and long hours for little return beyond your own satisfaction and artistic expression.

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Allday – gallery

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Being a male, I cannot understand what being a woman is like in any experience. How has being a female in the music photography world you have navigated affected you personally? Do you think the opportunities are the same for both sexes? What’s it like being a female in the pit?
I have been pretty lucky here in Adelaide, as we have a pretty small and supportive group of photographers. When I started back in 2008 there were definitely more guys shooting around me, but these days I would say that it’s a bit more even. As a female photographer you definitely get a lot of men in the audience trying to get your attention, asking what gear you are using so that they can tell you what you should be using, because of course they know better than you do! And it’s always fun to deal with their expectation that you are only there taking photos to get “close” to the band, if you know what I mean.
There is definitely a default attitude that when people see a male photographer they assume he is better, more experienced, and there for more “professional” reasons than a female photographer.
I actually started an online group for female and non-cis male live music photographers after I noticed that male photographers in a lot of the existing photography groups were very quick to jump on people who asked what they considered were “dumb” questions, so many of the female members tended to stop posting. This group has now been going for about a year and a half, and provides a safe space where we can share our work, get feedback, ask questions and seek advice without judgement. We have nearly 180 members, all of who shoot gigs all around Australia and who are a constant source of support. 

We live in a number dominated world. So many likes, albums going platinum, millions of streams. With that in mind, how did you feel when you found out about being nominated for this award? You are a worthy winner in my view should that occur, but there are so many female photographers out there. Being nominated is a real achievement.
I was completely blown away by the nomination. I see the work that is being produced by my community every single day, and it is some of the best in the world! Photography is also such a subjective art form, so i’m thankful that the judges saw something in my work. The nomination feels like a really wonderful acknowledgement of 10 years of hard work. 

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Sarah McLeod – gallery

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It’s going to be a great night either way. If you do win though you will make the Honour Roll. That would be cool. Can you share a line or two from your acceptance speech should you win?
I haven’t even started to think about the possibility of winning, but I guess that if I did I would thank the AWMA’s for including a category that acknowledges the work of female live music photographers, because by including us in a music awards event it also acknowledges us as part of the music industry which we help to support. I would also, of course, thank all of the amazing online publications that have given me the opportunity to do what I love!

Finally, a few questions for some quick answers –
FAVOURITE:
Album – Siamese Dream – Smashing Pumpkins
Artist – Smashing Pumpkins, The Smiths, Manic Street Preachers, David Bowie.
Movie – Hedwig and the angry inch, Velvet Goldmine.
Place to visit – Japan.
Venue to play – Favourite to shoot at is The Gov.
Food –  Chocolate.
Drink – French Earl Grey tea.
Person in History – I’m still currently fascinated by Vivian Maier.
Tattoo – (If you don’t have one, what would you get?) I have a bunny rabbit with headphones on my left arm.

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Dillinger Escape Plan – gallery

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Check out KERRIE GEIER below
Website / Facebook / Instagram / Twitter

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Moaning Lisa (at Stonecutters) – gallery

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Peter Murphy – gallery

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Check out the other finalists for the Awards HERE

Follow AUSTRALIAN WOMEN IN MUSIC
Website  Facebook  Twitter  Instagram

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AMNPLIFY – DB